Improvement in ferry-guards



L. SIMON.

FERRY-GUARD.

lmentea Feb.151a7e.

N. PErERS, PHDTO.LITHDGRAPMER, WASHINGTGN, D, C4

atlanti-fi:I omen LOUIS SIMON, OF' CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

i IMPROVEMENT IN FERRY-GUARDS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 173,507, dated February l5, 1876; application led Decembervll, 1875.

To all'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I,L0U1s SIMON, of the city of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gates for Draw and Swing Bridges, Ferry-Boats, Landings, 86e. 5 and I- do hereby declare that the follow- ,ing is al full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompany` `in such a manner that the gates will close immediatelyupon the opening of the draw or the departure ot' the boat from the landing.

. In the drawing is shown a plan view of-my invention, the flooring being broken away to exhibit the mechanism by means of which the gates or bars are operated, and which may be explained as follows:

A represents one of the approaches to the drawot' a bridge, end of la ferry-boat, or its landing. B B lare two standards, either ot' metal or wood, firmly secured to the lioorin g onl opposite sides of the roadway, and facing each other. These standards may be of any required height,and are madehollow to permit the rods Bl B1 to pass down through them, as shown by the dotted lines BIYBl. C C are two horizontal bars, pivoted between their centers and'outer ends to the standards B B, as shown at C1 C1, and to which the upper ends of the rods Bl B1 are attached at B3 B3. C2 C2 are stops to prevent the bars C C from falling below a horizontal position asthey close. E is a rock-shaft of iron, or it may be of wood, placed underneath the road;`

way, and at rightv angles to the same, its outer ends IiXed in suitable socketsl or bearings, so that it may turn upon the pivots E1 E1. E2 E2 are arms projecting from either end oi' the shaft E, so arranged as to fall directly underv neath the standards B B to the rods Bl B1,

passing down th'rough which they are con nected by means of a bolt, screw, or pin passing through the lower ends'of the rods Bl B1 and the slots E3 E3 in the arms E2 E2, as shown at E3 E3, F is'an arm projecting from the center of the shaft E at right angles to the arms E2 E2, and so arranged upon thetop of the shaft as to stand perpendicularly when the arms E2 E2 are occupying a horizontal position'. G is a crooked lever, constructed ot' one or more pieces, working in the slides or guides H H. The inner end of this lever is attached to the arm'F at F1 by any suitable device, and'its outer end supplied 'with a roller, G', to render the working more. easy by reducing the friction. I is a spring ot' metal, or other proper substance, so con-Y structed and arranged as to bear against the stud or short arm .E5 on the shaft E, to aid in closing the gates or bars.

A more desirable form of spring, in the shape `of those in ordinary use for railwaycars, may be used by placing it against the frame-work at K, in such a manner that the 4 head of the lever G will press against it when the gates are opened.

The spring I, and all modifications of it, may, however, be dispensed with, as the con` struction of the machinery is such as to insure the closingof the gates immediately upon wlthdrawal ot' the pressure from the lever G.

rI he working of my invention is obvious. Supposing it to be placed uponv the landing at the foot of a pier or wharf', when the ferryboat runs' in, a bumper on the bows comes in contact with the end of the lever G, pushing it back, thus causing the shaft E to revolve upon its pivoted ends E1 E1. The rods B1 B1 are forced upward by means of the arms E2 E2, to which they are united, lifting the bars C C from their horizontal to a perpendicular position, as shown by the dotted lines C3, C3, thus opening the way for the passage of carriages, Ste.- It is also obvious that the rods B1 B1, bein g joined to the bars C C inside their respective centers, and of the points at which they are pivoted to the standardsB B, lift intheir upward course the longer ends of the` bars, the weight of which easily brings them down again when pressure is withdrawn from the lever G.

I am aware that lifting gates or bars, as the rock-shaft E, supplied with the arms E2 distinguished from such as swing or revolve, E2 and F, in combination with the lever G, have been before used, and therefore do not When the same are constructed and arranged claim this feature as new 5 but to'operate substantially as and for the vpur- What I do claim as my invention, and deposesset forth. sire to secure by Letters Patent, is In testimony that I claim the foregoing as l. I claim the combination of the push-lemy own invention Iafx my signature in pres-- ver G, rock-shaft E, rods Bl Bl, and gate arms ence of two Witnesses.

or guards G C, substantially as and for the LOUIS SIMON. purposes set forth. Witnesses:

2. l claim, in a self-closing gate, the stand- GEORGE OooMBs,

ards B B, the bars C C, the rods4 B1 B1, and B. SGHUENEMANN. 

